The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-24
ANTI. SLAvERY's BIRTHPLACE.

ANTI SLAvERY'S BIRTHPLACE.
Senator Hoar's Claim for Worcester County a
Century Out of the Way.
Germantown (Pa) Letter in New York
Senator Hoar. of Massachusetts,, in his recent
speech ruthlessy SCATTERING the wheel of the
universe so that be might shift its hub from Bos-
ton to Worcester county declared that in that
county anti-savery sentiment bad it's birth
place. Worcester county, as he announces. may
be 1.-The most favored spot the face of the
abounds." and it may be that il the Republicans
of that county are defeated this fall the crack of
doom is near. but there is a document in the
archives OF Germantown which testifes that
century before the antislavery cause was born
IN Worcester county 1t had it's birth
among little group of Dutch linen
weayers and farmers in this same ancient
probably Que of the quaintest. it is one Of the
most valuable Of the documentary relics of this
country's earliest settlers 1t was written by
Francis Daniel Pastorius, young German
scholar of noble family. who emigrated to this
country with other German and Dutch emf
grants in 1852 and founded Germantown. They
were Menonites, but became Quakers through
their intercourse with the followers of Penn.
These latter were Shareholders and slave
dealers, facts that were abhorrent to Pastorius.
On April Is, 1858, he drew up protest, which
signed by three other leading men In the
settlement and forwarded to the Friends
meeting. The following Is verbatim copy of
the originals:
This is We Monthly Meeting held at Rigert Wor-
These are the reasons why we are against the
trafick of mems body followeth Ii there any
that would be done or handled at this msnuera
viz, to be sold or m ade slave for all the time OF
his lifea How fearful e. faint-hearted are many
on sea when they see a strange vessel being
afraid it should be a Turck, and they should be
tacken and sold for Slaves ia Turnkey. Now
what Is this better done As Tnrcks doef yea
rather Is it worse for them, web say they are
Christians. for we hear, that ye most part of
such Meyers are brought neither against their
will d consent, and that many OF them are stol-
len. Now that they black, cannot
ceive there is more liberty to have them slaves,
it is to have other white ones. There is
saving, that we snail do to all mon, licke
will be done our selves: hacking no difference
of what generation, descent, or Colour they
are. And those who steal or robb men.
and those who buy or purchase them.
are they not all alicke? Here is liberty
of Conscience, web is right and reasonable. here
ought to be lickewise liberty of ye body, except
of evidoers. web is an other case. But to bring
men hither, or TO robb and sell them against
their will, we stand together. In Europe there
are many oppressed for Conscience sacke; and
here there are those oppressed web are of a
black Colour. And we who know that men
must not commit adultery, some doe commit
adultery in others. separating wifes from their
husbands, and giving them to others and some
sell the children of those Creatures to other
men. On doe consider we'll this thing. you who
doe it, if you would be done at this manner2 and
if 1t is done according to Christianity You sur
pass Holland and Germany in this thing. This
mackes i'll report in all those Countries of
Europe, where they hear off. that We Quackers
doe here handel men. Licke they handel there
ye Cattle; and for that reason some have no
mind or inclination to come hither. And who
shall maintaine your cause or plaid for it'll True
~ we cannot doe SO except You shall inform US
better hereof. viz, that christians have liberty
to practise this things. Pray. What thing in
the world can be done worse towarts US then IL
men should robb or steal US away q sell us for
slaves to strange Countries separating housband
from their wife and children.
Being now this is not done as that manner We
will be done st. therefore contradict 81 are
against this traffck of mon body. AUD we who
profess that il is not lawful steal, must licke
wise avoid to purchase such things are stolen,
but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing
if possibel and such men aught to be delivred
out of ye hands of We Robbers and set free as
we'll in Europe Then is PENNSYLVANIA to have
a good report in stead it hath now bad one for
this sacke in other Countries Especially
whereas ye Europeans are DESTROYS to know
in what manner We Quackers doe rule In their
Province most of them doc loock upon us
with evious eye. But If this ls done well,
what snail we say. is don evil?
If these slaves (wch they say are SO
wicked and stubborn mem should joint them
selves fight for their freedom and handel their
masters & mastrIsses. as they did handel them
before: Will these masters and mastrisses
tacke the sword at hand & war; against these
poor slaves. llcke We are able to believe, some
will not refuse to do? Or have these Meyers not
much right to fight for their freedom as you
have to kept them slavesl
Now consider we'll this thing. If it is good or
bad2 And il case You find it to 10 good TO
handel these blacks at that manner we desire q
require you hereby lovingly that you may in
forme us herein web at this time never was
DONE viz. that Christians have Liberty to doe
so, to the end shall he satisfied this point,
& Statistic lickewise our good friends q ecaua!nt-
ances in our natif Country, to whose it is a ter
or farfull thing that men should be han
deled so in PENNSYLVANIA.
This is from monty meeting at German
towE held We Is of the month 1858 to be deliv-
cred to the monthly meeting at Richard Warrels.
GERRET HENDRICKS
Derrick OPP GRAEFF
Francis DANIELL PAsTORIUS
ADRIAN GRAEF.
This protest was referred by the monthly
meeting of the Friends to the quarterly meet
ing. and by the quarterly meeting TO the yearly
meeting at Burlington whore it was adjudged
not be proper for this Meeting to give a
Positive Judgment in the case, It having
therefore, at present they forbear it."